80TH INDEPENDENCE DAY- FREEDOM FIGHTER UNITY FOR OUR DIVERSITY
“Freedom is not given; it is taken,” as rightly said by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Today, on the 80th Independence Day, I present my vision towards a leading nation, in the spirit of the sacrifices made by our valiant freedom fighters for achieving freedom from British colonial rule.
India’s Independence Day holds great significance in the eyes of every Indian citizen, as our country achieved freedom from British colonial rule. Since 1947, we have been celebrating August 15th as our Independence Day. India is one of the world’s largest democracies. India achieved independence after the immense sacrifices made by our freedom fighters, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and many more of the unsung heroes who worked hard to get us the freedom we have today.
Every Indian citizen has a unique way of celebrating Independence Day. Some citizens like to decorate their places with the Indian flag, some take pride in raising the flag higher, and some celebrate by participating in various social activities organized in public places. As we celebrate our 80th Independence Day, we don’t just celebrate a date on the calendar but a day to respect our freedom fighters. It is because of them that our generation gets to live a life on its terms without any coercion from the British. As we celebrate the sunrise today, let us not forget the longest and darkest nights of Indian history, since the freedom that we take for granted cost the lives of a large number of freedom fighters. “This freedom was achieved by the blood, sweat, and courage of our ancestors”. The freedom was fought for by countless unrecognized men and women whose sacrifices could not be recorded and highlighted in our history textbooks. They fought hard for us, unconcerned about whether they would live to see the next day when the tricolor flag was hoisted. The flag does not just flutter in the wind; rather, it holds the memories of those who sacrificed their present for our future.
As we enter the era of political independence for our nation, we are redefining freedom in the 21st century by not only breaking the chains forged by the British but also addressing domestic challenges. We should ensure that the wealth of our nation reaches minorities, marginalized and malnourished children, and other underprivileged citizens of the nation, regardless of their residence. They must have access to good-quality education.
In terms of social freedom, we must break down the walls of casteism, creed, and gender discrimination. We must develop a society where equality doesn’t feel like a constitutional promise or a delusional idea, but a reality. We should respect our tricolor flag, which represents the rich heritage of our nation and the diversity rooted in the history of India. We should also address the environmental issues of our nation. We must stop polluting our holy rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. Our cities today are covered with a thick, white blanket of smoke and fuel emissions, polluting them and making them unlivable. The poor climatic conditions are leading to worldwide conflicts and must be addressed urgently.
Patriotism doesn’t only mean standing at attention while the national anthem is being sung, forwarding patriotic messages on WhatsApp, or posting photos or videos on Instagram on Independence Day. True patriotism is found in the quiet, individual acts toward building a great nation; “for example, the teacher teaching a student who cannot afford good-quality education at a minimal cost, the entrepreneur creating a significant number of jobs for unemployed people, and the citizens treating their fellow mates with dignity and respect”.
“India’s strength lies in its unity and diversity”.
The Indian flag should fly higher everywhere, not just on the poles, but also in our hearts, in the things we do every day, and in the things, we want to do in the future. We have come a long way, and yet there are miles to go. The best parts of the story are yet to be written, and we are the people who will write them.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY… JAI HIND
Author : Aditi Raj (12th Class Student – Raja Rammohan Roy Academy, Dehradun
Reviewed by : Palak Handuja & Ankit Raj (Editorial Board)
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*The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nyayavani Foundation. © Nyayavani Foundation. All rights reserved.
